In the wake of McCain's death, many people — politicians and citizens alike — have taken to social media to respond to his passing.

Cindy McCain, the senator's wife of 38 years, wrote on Twitter: "My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best."

McCain's daughter Meghan released an emotional statement on Twitter shortly after the announcement of the Republican's passing. "I was with my father at his end, as he was with me at my beginning," she said. "In the 33 years we shared together, he raised me, taught me, corrected me, comforted me, encouraged me, and supported me in all things."

Former President Barack Obama also released a statement, noting the differences between himself and his previous opponent in the 2008 election. "We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world," Obama wrote in his statement. "We saw this country as a place where anything is possible — and citizenship as our patriotic obligation to ensure it forever remains that way."

Senator Elizabeth Warren echoed Obama's sentiment of acknowledging that she and McCain had a very different political record. "John McCain and I disagreed on many things, and sometimes quite forcefully," she wrote on Twitter. "But even when we disagreed, I always respected that his heart was focused on doing what he thought was best for the American people."

Many other politicians — including Senator Kamala Harris, Democratic candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Rep. Maxine Waters — released statements on social media to pay their respects to McCain and his family. Former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton wrote: "He was a tough politician, a trusted colleague, and there will simply never be another like him. My thoughts and prayers are with Cindy and his entire family."

Others are responding to a 2008 clip of McCain "defending" Obama against a racist voter at a Minnesota rally. In the video, a woman calls Obama an "Arab," to which McCain replies that he is a "decent family man." Some people are mistakenly praising the late senator for his words, while others are pointing out that McCain's reply implies that Arab people are not "decent family men." As activist and educator Brittany Packnett summed up, "In my estimation, his intent was to stop racist talk — but the impact of the words he chose, on actual Muslim and Middle Eastern people, matters. That clip is not an incontrovertible high point for everyone."